Bikini babes to frolic on UK PM's doorstep

Bikini-clad beauties battling for Olympic gold will bring a new excitement to the Horse Guards Parade, hallowed grounds that annually host the Trooping of the Colour on the Queen's official birthday.

London: Bikini-clad beauties battling for Olympic gold will bring a new excitement to the Horse Guards Parade, hallowed grounds that annually host the Trooping of the Colour on the Queen's official birthday.

Beach volleyball will be contested practically on the doorstep of British Prime Minister David Cameron starting Saturday, with Americans Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor seeking an unprecedented third consecutive women's title.

"We have played really well," said May-Treanor, who turns 35 on Monday. "Kerri and I feel in our hearts we are a threat and we can win this."

Together with US rivals April Ross and Jennifer Kessy, they considered the possibilities of members of the British Royal Family appearing to watch.

"Prince Harry! Yes, we've been tweeting," Ross said, quickly confessing that she was joking. "It would be great to see Harry at our sport. Or Kate."

"We would be available for team also," Kessy noted.

"Any of the Royal Family would be fun," May-Treanor said. "Their interest is important. They would bring the rest of the country."

Bikini-wearing women playing volleyball on 5,000 tonnes of sand from a quarry in southern England might bring a few viewers on their own, even though women's matches start as late as an hour before midnight, when it can get cold.

"We are allowed to wear different gear when it gets too cold. That keeps us warm," May-Treanor said.

"But if it's the same as it has been, we'll wear our bikinis. It was warm at 11 at night," Ross added. "We'll try to go in bikinis unless weather dictates more discreet outfits.

"We grew up in California and this is what we have worn all the time. We wouldn't be playing in shorts. You get sand everywhere. It's not comfortable."

Horse Guards Parade, which dates to 1745, was named for the soldiers that have guarded the royal monarch since 1660 and serves as the staging ground for the pagentry of the Queen's official, and bikini-free, birthday bash.

Beach volleyball allows more modest attire so athletes of faiths requiring body covering can be allowed to participate.

"We think it's a great thing," Kessy said. "We want women of all different religions to be able to play our sport so the fact they can wear more modest gear is great."

Defending men's Olympic champions Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser of the United States understand the women are going to take the most attention.